STUART, Fla. —As fast as AI technology keeps getting better, hackers are also finding ways to use it to their own benefit.
Federal officials say that con artists use voice cloning to steal money from people they know.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said on Wednesday that it won’t be long before this artificial intelligence (AI) technology is used to target people in our area.
Craig Agranoff, a tech expert, says that thieves can easily copy the unique voice patterns of people you may know and scare people, especially older people, into thinking they are in danger.
“This can be done in a matter of minutes if you have the right tools and software,” said Agranoff.
The tech expert says that this scam could hurt parents or grandparents.
“This one makes me nervous because if I saw your face on FaceTime calling me on my phone, I would worry that you need my help. He said, “I wouldn’t know it was a scam.
Since then, people have talked about the use of speech cloning.
“Voice cloning can also be used for many different things, like making it easier for people with speech problems to communicate or making computer sounds sound more natural. “There are some good things about cloning voices,” said Agranoff.
But bad people often go along with the good. That’s why local and federal law enforcement are telling families to be ready so they don’t become victims.
They tell you to use a “safe word” or have a similar plan in case someone pretends to be a loved one in trouble and calls you.
“Not just a safe word, but also a safe question,” Agranoff suggested.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says to hang up and call the person who is meant to have called you to find out what’s going on.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office wants to tell everyone that if you reach out to them, they will help you figure out if your family member is really in trouble.
